AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Pueblo South senior Matt Riley had a total of 4 yards on four carries at halftime Friday night.

However, on the most pivotal drive of The Denver Post game of the week, Riley took over with nine consecutive carries for 78 yards. He didn’t get the honor of scoring, as teammate Kameron Rucker added the finishing touch.

Still, for all Riley and the Colts cared, it could have been the team’s waterboy who scored, as long as somebody did. The drive secured a 28-14 victory over host Air Academy in a Class 4A Foothills League game.

“I was getting frustrated because I only had those 4 yards,” Riley said. “That second half, I knew for us to get that ‘W’ I had to give it all I got. It was a long drive, but we pushed through it.”

It was a gritty battle between teams that began the night undefeated. Pueblo South (8-0, 6-0 league), No. 2 in The Denver Post/9News 4A rankings, benefited greatly from 300 total yards of rushing, but the Colts were given an added advantage of four turnovers by No. 6 Air Academy (7-1, 5-1).

“The difference in the game was four turnovers,” Air Academy coach Mike Hillstrom said. “I don’t think we’ve had four turnovers all year combined.”

Riley finished with 134 yards on 14 carries, including a 56-yarder at the end of regulation. Rucker ran 25 times for 118 yards and quarterback Tony Medina added another 43 rushing yards.

“We want to keep our defense off the field, our offense on the field and let our O-line do the best to win the game,” Rucker said.

The Colts got a huge boost in the final minutes of the second half.

With Pueblo South leading 10-7, an errant snap by Air Academy sailed over the head of punter Andrew Heard, the first and most costly bad snap for the Kadets in a couple of seasons.

Pueblo South didn’t have far to go, and Riley scored easily from 2 yards out with 37 seconds remaining in the half.

The Colts weren’t done as Kameron Wilhite picked off a pass by Air Academy quarterback Brennan Price. Wilhite returned the interception 60 yards to the Air Academy 10-yard line with one second remaining.

The Colts added an easy field goal and looked in charge. The Kadets had other thoughts after halftime break.

After a scoreless third quarter, Air Academy got back in the game by stopping Pueblo South’s offense on downs in Kadets territory and then putting together a solid drive.

On fourth down with 4 yards to the end zone, Price faked a handoff, rolled right and threw left to Bob Terry, who pulled the ball away from the Colts defender for the touchdown.

At 20-14, it was a ballgame until Riley took over. The big drive ate up clock and yards, and ended with Rucker scoring from 4 yards out.

“Whoever gets the touchdown doesn’t really matter, as long as we get it,” Rucker said.

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